The SB considered signing a letter from the five towns to the Rest of River (RoR) agreement (letter included in December 15, 2023, issue of Stockbridge Updates). The letter advocates in favor of rail transport of PCBs. SB also considered adding West Stockbridge as a sixth signatory. Both motions passed unanimously.
In a related matter, Town Administrator, Michael Canales, will request of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission all minutes of the RoR Committee. The RoR Committee was dissolved as of December 2023. Similar requests were made by Lee and Sheffield. Lee SB also approved release of attorney-client privileged records.
White explained, “I’m just trying to make sure that if there’s any sort of detail that we don’t really have access to around trucks versus trains, I would like to have a chance to review that and have it in the form of our comments that are due February 1.”
The 2016 agreement recommended train transport. White said the most recent GE transportation plan focuses on trucks with hardly any consideration of rail. White wanted to know what changed and why.
Other votes taken at the SB meeting approved James Cornwell as new member of Stockbridge Department of Public Works Highway Department, and offer of employment to Brandon Messina for the Stockbridge Police Department.
